Tuesday, 26 May 2009

I am writing to inform you that MissM has some books out on loan which are long overdue. Repeated reminders have failed to effect their return.

If the books are not returned to the Library we will have to make a replacement charge on the end of term bill. I feel you would like to know of this matter, and hopefully can expedite the return of the books concerned. We are delighted that the pupils are making use of the Library, but wish to underline the fact that other pupils would also like access to these resources.

The books are:

Philosophy: the classics by Nigel WarburtonOresteia by AeschylusGreek religion and society by P.E. EasterlingAn introduction to Homer by W.A. CampsLysistrata; Acharnians; Clouds by AristophanesIliad by Homer

Thank you for your co-operation.

Yours sincerely

The School Librarian

*****

MrM and MrsMwere very impressedwhen they read this letterand agreed that it should be placedin the family archives.

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

We leave behind the cold rain and grey skiesto go to Evensong in the Cathedral.

Afterwards, we chat to a elderly Friarwho is a friend of MrM's father, Thomas.MrM says "You have a new habit!The last one had a big patch on!".It seems rather irreverent to mebut the elderly Friar is amused,in a saintly kind of way.

We are nearly the last to leaveand the covered stone passages are empty.

The light at the entrance to the cloisterdistracts me and for a momentthe photograph is all I can think about.

Turning, I find that I am aloneand MrM and MissM have walked onwithout me.

I run to catch up.

If I had not stoppedI could have listened to MissMdescribe her Eurovision partywith themed food.I would have liked that.

Sunday, 17 May 2009

After the match I left MrM at the stadiumand walked back with the crowds to the station.On the train home there were two little lads,perhaps seven or eight years old,who had been at the match with their dads.They were fizzing with excitement -for them the result was less importantthan the experience of going to Twickenham.We 'bantered' about the best London Irish playerand, fortunately, my rugby knowledgejust about took the strain.I asked them what position they playedand when I told them that was the same as my sonthey asked me where my son was.I nearly said "On a pirate ship"but they might have thought I was making it upso I just said that he was walking in the jungle.Their eyes were as big as saucers.It was the best part of the day.

The images were taken, with permission,at the private view of an exhibition,Moving Patterns,at the Royal Geographical Society.It is the culmination of a research projectto consider the effect of migration on artistic expression.

It involved collaboration with artistswho have a variety of visual references from different cultures.One artist amalgamates the structure of tartanand the Indian tradition of gold and silver artwork.

On the outside Shobdon Churchis a little nondescript,grey and rectangular with a medieval castellated tower.

It is only when you open the doorthat you fall in love.

Inside you find a confection of pastel coloursand a riotous assemblage of Gothick fantasy.It was built by the Bateman family in 1756in the fashionableStrawberry Hill Gothicstyleinspired by Horace Walpole and the 'Committee of Taste'and care was lavished on every detail.

The Bateman family sat in the South aisleon these elegant chairswarmed by a substantial fireplace.

The servants sat on the other side,below the pulpit, with no fire,under the watchful eye of the priest.

The pulpit appears to be suspended in the airunder the extravagant canopy.

Look up the nave to the altarand admire the barrel vaultingand fantastical chancel arch.Look back towards the doorand admire the carved pew endsand elegant balcony.

What's not to love?

*****

What happens when your camera battery dies...just before you visit Shobdon Church?You have to use the camera on your mobile phone.The photos above are not edited in any wayand are an example of what can be achieved.The trick is to hold your hand very steadybecause the shutter speed is slower.The main problems are that the colour balance is poorand composition can be clumsyespecially without a zoom function.I used to take a lot of photos with my mobileand so the memory is completely full.I had to delete five photos to make room for these imagesand that made me very careful about the composition.